[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61772-61774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27322]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-168-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-
81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 
DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and 
MD-88 airplanes. This proposal would require installing shield 
assemblies for power feeder cables in the forward and aft lower cargo 
compartments, and installing an additional shield for the power feeder 
cable of the auxiliary power unit in the aft lower cargo compartment. 
This action is necessary to prevent a cable from chafing against an 
edge of a lightening hole, which could result in electrical arcing, and 
consequent smoke/fire in the lower cargo compartments. This action is 
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-168-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-168-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data 
and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024). This information may 
be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elvin K. Wheeler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5344; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:

[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed AD 
is being requested.

[[Page 61773]]

[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each request.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-168-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-NM-168-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    As part of its practice of re-examining all aspects of the service 
experience of a particular aircraft whenever an accident occurs, the 
FAA has become aware of several incidents of migration of power feeder 
cable troughs on McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-
82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. The 
migration occurred where cables pass through lightening holes into 
forward and aft lower cargo compartments. Investigation revealed that 
the cause of such migration is vibration. Migration of the trough could 
result in a cable chafing against an edge of a lightening hole, which 
could result in electrical arcing, and consequent smoke/fire in the 
lower cargo compartments.

Other Related Rulemaking

    The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing and operators of McDonnell 
Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-
87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes, has reviewed all aspects of the 
service history of those airplanes to identify potential unsafe 
conditions and to take appropriate corrective actions. This proposed 
airworthiness directive (AD) is one of a series of corrective actions 
identified during that process. We have previously issued several other 
ADs and may consider further rulemaking actions to address the 
remaining identified unsafe conditions.
    On April 14, 1994, the FAA issued AD 94-09-02, amendment 39-8890 
(59 FR 18720, April 20, 1994). That AD requires inspecting the 
auxiliary power unit (APU) for power feeder cable damage, and repair of 
the cable if necessary; then modifying the cable installation. Those 
actions are required to eliminate a potential source of fire ignition 
from electrical shorting of the generator power feeder cable. That AD 
also requires inspecting previously modified airplanes to determine 
whether a spacer or ``stand off'' had been installed, and installing 
those items if necessary. Those actions are required to prevent the 
power feeder cable for the APU from chafing against adjacent 
structures, which could result in electrical shorting and arcing, and a 
fire below the cabin floor.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04, dated January 24, 2000, which 
describes procedures for installing shield assemblies for power feeder 
cables in the forward and aft lower cargo compartments, and installing 
an additional shield for the power feeder cable of the auxiliary power 
unit in the aft lower cargo compartment.
    Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin 
will protect the power feeder cables from contact with the edge of a 
lightening hole when trough migration occurs, and is intended to 
adequately address the identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 473 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 275 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 
1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed installation, and 
that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would 
cost approximately between $674 and $3,656 per airplane. Based on these 
figures, the cost impact of the proposed installation on U.S. operators 
of these airplanes is estimated to be between $203,225 and $1,023,275, 
or between $739 and $3,721 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements 
of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions 
in the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the 
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions. The manufacturer may 
cover the cost of parts associated with this proposed AD, subject to 
warranty conditions. Manufacturer warranty remedies also may be 
available for labor costs associated with this proposed AD. As a 
result, the costs attributable to the proposed AD may be less than 
stated above.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under 
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part

[[Page 61774]]

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 2000-NM-168-AD.

    Applicability: Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 
(MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes, as listed in 
McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04, 
dated January 24, 2000; certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent a cable from chafing against an edge of a lightening 
hole, which could result in electrical arcing, and consequent smoke/
fire in the lower cargo compartments, accomplish the following:

Installation

    (a) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, install 
shield assemblies for power feeder cables in the forward and aft 
lower cargo compartments, and install an additional shield for the 
power feeder cable of the auxiliary power unit in the aft lower 
cargo compartment, per the Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin MD80-24A100, Revision 04, dated 
January 24, 2000.

Installations Accomplished per Previous Issues of Service Bulletin

    (b) Installations accomplished before the effective date of this 
AD per McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin MD80-24-100, original 
issue, dated March 30, 1988, through Revision 3, dated March 15, 
1991, are considered acceptable for compliance with the actions 
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, is authorized to approve 
alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 24, 2003.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27322 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P